Body English

I’ve heard good things about “Love and Other Drugs” (which opens Wednesday) and I’m looking forward to seeing it. But the advance publicity that it’s receiving, which plays up the sex scenes of its stars, Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway, reminds me of why I’m suspicious of cinematic nudity. Here’s Gyllenhaal, as quoted by Rob Voris, in the Nov. 22-28 issue of Variety:

If you’re naked in a movie physically, you’re blanketed by the intimacy between the characters. Emotionally naked is just where it’s at. It’s where you’re supposed to be both as an actor and as a human being.

That’s the problem with physical nudity. First, there’s no reason to believe that it correlates to emotional nakedness. Second, it generates bullshit on the part of actors who seek to explain or justify it as something other than “We’re young and good-looking and people will pay to see us get it on.” Third, it’s hard to imagine the bullshit not seeping into performances and resulting in something less than the emotional nakedness that is Gyllenhaal’s, and likely most good actors’, ideal state. On the other hand, Gyllenhaal and Hathaway are two of the more interesting young performers, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they find smart ways to get around the problem. Will report back after I see it.